Chapter 105

The File Final OVER THE TIMES

After Vrex placed the flower in what could be considered a safe place, he returned to support Ash’s battle. Then, after several towering beams of light had drawn everyone’s attention and faded, when Hana and the others looked back, the landscape around the evacuated hospital had been permanently altered.

“…”

Standing at the edge of the semicircular crater that seemed to have reshaped the entire ground, tears welled up in Hana’s eyes but she held them back, not letting them fall. Rubbing her sore eyes, Girl turned on the playback device which resembled a video tape and had just fallen off V-Rex.

[“Hana.”]

In the video, Ash greeted Hana from atop V-Rex’s head. Hearing his familiar voice made her feel like she was living in some bizarre, isolated reality.

[“Right now I’m looking at Hana, aren’t I? If Hana got this pre-recorded message, it would be great… yeah, it wouldn’t exactly end up in someone else’s hands, I won’t make mistakes over something so trivial.”]

[“When you get this, I might already be dead… don’t cry in front of me.”] Hearing Ash’s warning, Hana rubbed her increasingly red eyes with the back of her hand. [“Of course, if you’re still alive in this world, I don’t have to force myself to find death either. Don’t worry, I will strive to survive and return to your side.]

[“However, at that time…”] Ash scratched his cheeks with his finger, showing a shy expression that no outsider had ever seen before. [“When I come back, don’t laugh at me using this video!”]

[“Speaking of the matter, tomorrow will be your birthday… I’m afraid I’ll be too awkward and can’t really tell you when I see you tomorrow, so I’m leaving this wish for you a bit early or later – Happy Birthday, Hana!”]

[“I am so happy to celebrate your birthday with you!”]

[“You’ve…” Two clear tears flowed down both sides of Hana’s smiling face.]

[“Moreover, if I never revealed to you before about why I fight, all my secrets, and even the bank account, enough for you to live freely three lifetimes in this world, they’re all in this video.”] Following the instruction in the video, Hana felt behind her and pulled out a small memory chip from the water-patterned plastic shell.

[“Actually, I haven’t been entirely devoid of other ways to take shortcuts. For example, transforming Hana into something like me or abandoning everything and taking her with me…”]

[“But how could that even work? Even to you, Ash, it would be far too deceitful and unjust.”]

“Hana?” Yu and Saya came rushing over, deeply worried. They reached out their hands in an attempt to comfort her, seeing her increasingly hunched back as they followed closely behind.

[“Then I might become someone very much unlike myself.”]

[“It has nothing to do with self-esteem; I struggle too much with words to express… anyway, if destiny dares to torment the woman I love,”]

[“then I want to confront it, let it know who is the true master!” ]

“Mr. Ash is a hero who saves the world,” Himizuki declared firmly beside Hana, not noticing that she hadn’t heard the gradually approaching footsteps. “But a hero like Mr. Ash doesn’t wish to see those he loves in this despondent state…”

[“Heh, wasn’t that quite chauvinistic? Not something worth promoting…”]

“Hana—” From behind, the cry went unheard. Hana, leaping toward and sliding down the slope, fell through the hole.

The remains of V-Rex’s crimson pieces, along with the debris left behind, were scattered throughout this area. No signs of Ash or those monsters were present anywhere.

[“Though it might sound harsh, I hope you don’t keep the hatred or blame yourself for what you’ve witnessed.”]

Where was he? Where exactly?

[“Fighting and sacrifices… we’ve done everything we could do.”]

Listening to Ash’s voice from the other side, Hana ignored the torn clothes and abrasions on her body, frantically searching for any trace of him.

[“Ah, almost… dawn is coming. I need to pretend to wake up and prepare the birthday party with you instead.” ] Back to the rising sun Ash stood up. [“Of course, I don’t plan to truly lie here waiting to die, making you lament your regrets for the rest of your life. No matter the distance or difficulty, I will come back to your world.”]

“!”

Suddenly sensing something, Hana quickly turned around, ignoring her own blood-stained palms as she pushed aside several pieces of debris. Beneath them, she found her transformation device “Heartlight,” wrapped in clothes and unsoiled by dust.

“Here — this is it!”

[“This is a man’s agreement.”]

“Ash, I’m coming— I’m here to save you!”

Her eyes glowing with newfound hope, Hana erupted with extraordinary strength, pushing away all the rocks and debris obstructing her path, and finally found what she had sought beneath.

[“So I ask, please also say hello to Yu and the others from me; and take better care of your body.”]

From beneath the rubble, a man’s arm equipped with V-Commander was revealed.

[“Goodbye, Hana.”]

“Ash!”

With eyes gleaming with joy, Hana grabbed hold of Ash’s hand and, with great effort, pulled him out from under the debris.

On the other side, Ash waved his fingers with a dashing farewell.

[“Take good care.”]

Clutching the familiar yet lifeless hand tightly, Hana noticed blood welling up under her, turning her skirt red where she knelt on the ground. All the stars faded away, leaving her feeling dazed.

“So it was like this.”

“Not like it was agreed upon?”

Lacking any spirit, Hana held onto that hand and squeezed each finger gently, unable to find any warmth there.

“You said…”

A twisted smile curled upward, causing the crystal tears that fell from her dim eyes to stream down sharply, striking the cracked V-Commander on her wrist like falling pearls.

“You said you would return.”

Lightly raising his hand, Ash wiped away the tears on her cheek.

“Liar.”

[Embrace! Pretty Cure · Future Timeline…]

[…]

[The End?]